1st Quarter

Super Bowl XXXVIII - PATRIOTS 32, PANTHERS 29

Patriots 0, Panthers 0

February 2, 2004

KEY PLAY

The Patriots had good field position and drove 34 yards on their first offensive possession, setting up kicker Adam Vinatieri for a 31-yard field-goal attempt from the middle of the field. But Vinatieri pushed the kick wide right. The miss marked the first time in six games that the Patriots hadn't scored on their opening drive.

Defense dominates early in the game

1st Quarter

The game shaped up exactly the way everyone figured -- with a whole lot of defense and little else. The two teams produced a total of four first downs in the opening frame, three for New England and one for Carolina. There were no scoring opportunities for the Panthers, who never advanced past their own 35-yard line. Meanwhile, New England used a mix of inside running and play-action passing to get deep into Carolina territory twice. On their first drive, the Patriots stalled inside the Panthers' red zone, and kicker Adam Vinatieri missed a 31-yard field goal. On its third drive New England punted after being stuffed on a third-down reverse at the Panthers 31.